You have your itinerary, passport, airline tickets and suitcases ready to go. Now you need to decide the best way to pack your wallet. In order to protect your vacation funds, and maximize convenience, AAA suggests international travelers use a combination of various forms of payment, each offering different advantages.

Credit/Debit Cards: For years, smart travelers knew that credit cards were a great way to pay abroad. A credit card, such as the AAA Visa card, is safer than carrying cash, and may offer a great exchange rate in the bargain. Be sure to call your issuer prior to departure to notify them that you are travelling outside the U.S. and to determine what fees are applied to international purchases and current conversion rates. These may be as high as three percent to convert purchases to U.S. dollars. (The AAA credit cards only charge a 2 percent foreign transaction fee). Even with the surcharges, paying by credit card may still be cheaper than converting cash overseas. Paying with plastic is quick and convenient, particularly in Europe, where Visa(R) and MasterCard(R) credit cards are widely accepted. In addition, many credit cards come with traveler-friendly features, such as extended protection against theft and the accidental damage of purchases. Others offer travel-accident and car-rental insurance. Paying by credit card also gives you the opportunity to dispute a bill from a foreign merchant. These vary according to country.

Foreign Currency Exchange: One convenient option to consider is obtaining at least a small amount of foreign currency in advance of your travels. This is a great way for travelers to avoid high exchange rates at airports and ATM fees and still have money on hand. Although it is frequently easiest to obtain local currency for tips and small purchases at airports, some AAA offices and banks offer foreign currency exchange. Call or visit offices in your area and ask if they offer foreign currency exchange, the fees associated, limits and how long it will take to receive funds. Arriving with a few Euros or other local currency in your possession can be helpful with baggage handling and ground transportation when you first arrive at your destination.

Refillable money cards: A refillable money card, such as the AAA Visa TravelMoney(R) card, ( ) is a prepaid, reloadable debit card, which offers travelers a safe and convenient alternative to travelers’ cheques and cash. The card can be used everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted, as well as ATMs around the world. Travelers using the AAA Visa TravelMoney card will also benefit from being able to obtain local currency at any Visa ATM around the world, and emergency card and cash replacement anywhere in the world, generally within one business day.

Travelers Cheques: Travelers cheques are safer than carrying cash as they are refundable if lost or stolen. Most travelers cheques never expire and come with 24/7 customer service for replacement and may include additional benefits. They can be exchanged for local currency where accepted at your destination.

“The best option for travelers is to carry a mixture of credit cards, debit cards, local currency, and traveler’s checks,” said Tom Wilt, managing director, AAA Partnership Programs. “All forms of payment should be treated like cash and kept securely in your wallet.”

Be sure to make a list of the numbers on the traveler’s checks and contact numbers for all cards or traveler’s checks to quickly and easily report them if lost or stolen. Carry this list in a secure location (other than in your wallet) at all times. Carry only the credit cards and other financial products and identification cards needed during your trip. Reducing the number of bank cards you carry and leaving other non-essential identification and membership cards at home decreases exposure to financial loss or theft. Also, be sure to track your usage by keeping receipts for your ATM, credit and debit cards in case you need to dispute a charge later.

If you do plan to use your credit cards overseas, call your card issuers in advance and let them know. Sometimes, the card may be put on hold after one or two foreign transactions until the card issuer determines that it is you using the card. If someone is not at your home to verify that you are overseas, then you could be in a real bind.

Review your accounts and statements as soon as possible and report billing errors immediately to resolve problems in a timely manner and uncover any possible fraud.

Visit AAA.com or your local AAA office for additional information on options available for international travelers.

As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.